Devonshire Club: West End glamour meets East End chic
Cocktails in the Library Bar at one of London’s newest private members club
“Mayfair style and glamour meet East End chic”. That’s how Devonshire Club founder Brian Clivaz described his venture to bring the West End members’ club experience to trendy Shoreditch.
The clubhouse, located in the warren of streets opposite Liverpool Street station, opened its doors in June 2016 inside a former 18th century warehouse and adjoining Georgian townhouse.
As well as 68 bedrooms, the sprawling building’s amenities include brasseries, a gym and a nail bar. But it’s the cocktails we’re here to investigate.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Each of the three bars has its own look, from the retro pink and green 1960s decor of the Cocktail Bar to the more pared-back charm of the Champagne Bar - but all of them share an ambience of relaxed comfort.
The Library Bar, where we find ourselves, is particularly easy to fall in love with: mellow lighting lends a warm glow to the room’s eclectic armchairs and well-stocked bookshelves, giving the bar a warm yet sophisticated vibe.
Our barman offers to “surprise” us, and letting the expert take charge proves a wise and eye-opening decision. Neither I nor my drinking companion would ordinarily opt for a floral drink, but the two variations on rose-inspired cocktails we are presented with are unexpected winners.
My cocktail - a melange of rose-infused vodka and peach liqueur, topped up with Veuve Cliquot - couldn’t be more different from my usual gin-based, citrussy choices, but I find myself loving it. The rose scent is fresh rather than heady, while the peach and champagne add a welcome fruity verve.
My friend’s drink, a Devonshire’s twist on Turkish Delight, is equally agreeable - a sweet and sippable concoction with similarly delicate rose notes.
We are promised two entirely different creations as a follow up, and my second drink, the bar’s take on the classic champagne cocktail, proves even more lethally drinkable than the first, a perfect balance of sharp and sweet.
Meanwhile, my companion’s follow-up certainly takes the prize for the most visually impressive. Served in a metal mug which gives off a distinctly Game of Thrones vibe, it comes with a stirring stick dripping with honey, to be turned upside down and swirled into the drink to balance out its bitter notes.
Offering an authentic private members’ club experience with all of the glamour but none of the stuffiness, the Devonshire Club is a welcome addition to East London’s cocktail scene.
Devonshire Club, 5 Devonshire Square, London, devonshire.club/membership
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
6 scenic white water rafting destinations to get your heart racing
The Week Recommends Have a rip-roaring time on the water
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Dangerous substances in Lunchables are raising concerns over children's health
In the Spotlight High levels of lead and sodium were recently found in the snack packages
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Fired art
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
7 bars here for your spring thirst
The Week Recommends Seven cities. Seven exciting drinking destinations.
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
7 bright cocktails to usher in spring
The Week Recommends The brisk months require a certain kind of drinking
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
The Westbury Hotel review: stunning suites in charming Dublin
The Week Recommends This hotel is the perfect spot to while away a weekend in Ireland's capital
By Kaye O'Doherty Published
-
Drama movies 2024: new films out this year
In Depth Latest reviews include The Boys in the Boat, One Life and Tchaikovsky's Wife
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Best new hotels and places to stay in 2024
The Week Recommends Featuring stylish island resorts, historical properties and wilderness retreats
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Albums of the year: best music of 2023
The Week Recommends A look back at the best pop, rap, jazz, dance, classical and rock releases
By The Week UK Published
-
8 cocktails to get you through winter
The Week Recommends Some boozy — and non-boozy — fortification to move you through the months ahead
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay review: an institution reinvented
The Week Recommends Traditions are maintained and the tweaks are clever and modern
By Neil Davey Published